Discusses possibilities and limitations of laboratory research methods for testing theories of second language acquisition. Reviews experimental lab studies and focuses on the motivation for conducting these studies, the use of artificial or semiartificial language structures and different design features. (54 references) (Author/CK)

Studied the cognitive equivalence of computerized and paper-and-pencil reading comprehension tests using verbal protocol analysis. Results for 48 college students indicate that the only significant difference between the computerized and paper-and-pencil tests was in the frequency of identifying important information in the passage. (SLD)

Investigates gender-related effects on the Western Australian Calculus Tertiary Entrance Examinations for the period 1995-2000, three years before and three years after graphics calculators were introduced. Considers students' total examination scores, scores on questions grouped by curriculum components, and students' use of graphics calculators…

Part III of the National Board Examination--a certifying examination of medical knowledge and patient management abilities--was assessed using 1,866 first-year residents. This 15-year study comparing Part III results with those of Parts I and II and with superiors' ratings indicates Part III's validity and provides a model for future research.…

Two easy-to-use microcomputer programs, the Student Problem Package and the Test Analysis Package, both by D. L. Harnisch et al. (1985), are described. These programs efficiently analyze test data for teachers. (SLD)

A group of covariance structure models was examined to ascertain the similarity between conventionally administered and computerized adaptive versions of the Differential Aptitude Test (DAT). Results for 332 students indicate that the computerized version of the DAT is an adequate representation of the conventional test battery. (TJH)

The paper describes ways in which the computer can assist language clinicians in performing highly informative linguistic analyses that are useful in the development and evaluation of intervention programs. Two modules from the software package, Computerized Profiling, are described and two cases illustrating clinical application of computers are…

The article examines decision-making expert systems and discusses their implications for diagnosis and prescription of reading difficulties. A detailed description of how a reading diagnostic expert system might operate to aid classroom teachers is followed by a discussion of advantages and limitations of expert systems for educational use.…

Reports on a study conducted to evaluate how individual differences in anxiety levels affect performance on computer versus paper-and-pencil forms of verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examination. Contrary to the research hypothesis, analysis of scores revealed that extroverted and less computer anxious subjects scored significantly lower on…

Simulated data were used to investigate the performance of modified versions of the Mantel-Haenszel method of differential item functioning (DIF) analysis in computerized adaptive tests (CAT). Results indicate that CAT-based DIF procedures perform well and support the use of item response theory-based matching variables in DIF analysis. (SLD)

Discusses the development and use of a computer-adaptive test (CAT) for learners of Chinese. Each time the examinee answers a question, the CAT program registers the answer and, based on the examinee's response, decides whether the next question should be harder or easier. (23 references) (MDM)

The speech of a sample of Chinese and Korean nonnative speakers of English (n=30) was evaluated by raters of the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) for a degree of fluency and by a computerized silent-pause-detection program. (35 references) (JL)

Discusses computer-managed testing and describes a study of elementary school students that compared computerized and paper-and-pencil testing. Guidelines for computerized testing are offered, including decisions relating to hardware requirements, the testing software, and the importance of collaboration between computer programers and test…

A procedure is introduced for determining the effect of testlet nonequivalence on operating characteristics of a testlet-based computerized mastery test (CMT). The procedure, which involves estimating the CMT decision rule twice with testlet likelihoods treated as equivalent or nonequivalent, is demonstrated with testlet pools from the Architect…

Fifth and sixth grade children were assigned to three pretesting conditions: a full-length pretest, an adaptive pretest that exited learners when nonmastery was indicated, and a no pretest control. Learners in the adaptive treatment demonstrated higher levels of performance on the posttest and had greater motivation to continue the instruction.…